Supporting DC’s Small Businesses
Small businesses are the beating heart of DC’s economy. They provide crucial jobs, goods, and services, and make our neighborhoods safer and more vibrant. DC’s economic vitality depends on our ability to be a place where people can start a business and make it grow.
Running a small business is hard work. But right now, many local businesses are experiencing obstacles they shouldn’t have to. Communication with DC agencies is often poor — leading businesses to find out about disruptive construction, major policy changes, or even closure notices the day they happen. Accessing basic services and licenses can require businesses to navigate a bureaucratic maze. Business grants and opportunities often seem to favor the most well-connected or well-resourced owners. Some regulations are so burdensome and impractical that they lead small businesses to leave DC altogether. And at the same time, rising commercial rents are forcing too many small businesses to abandon their storefronts and are likely preventing aspiring business owners from getting started.
As Councilmember, I’ve made it a priority to provide responsive constituent services for small businesses. I secured funding to expand Main Street Associations that serve as a lifeline for local businesses, helped clear red tape, and am incredibly proud of the locally owned, locally staffed, and thriving community businesses that are taking root in Ward 4.
As Mayor, I’ll change government to work better for small businesses DC-wide. That includes making “streateries” affordable for local restaurants so they can bring dormant commercial corridors to life; capping ticket resale prices so profiteers can’t suppress access to local music venues and artists; and expanding farmers’ markets to bring fresh produce and craft goods to every neighborhood. It includes investing in green infrastructure in residential and commercial buildings — and creating a pipeline of green jobs to install and build it. It includes launching grants to propel entrepreneurship and leveraging the more than two dozen higher education institutions in DC to establish an entrepreneurial tech hub. It also includes a new vision for downtown DC that reflects changing patterns for work, dining, and entertainment.
As Mayor, I’ll prioritize the needs of DC’s small businesses, foster entrepreneurship across every ward, invest in the industries and workforce of the future, and build an inclusive economy that no longer leaves workers and families behind.